An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus of asymmetrical multiprocessing having:
- a central processing unit (CPU) comprising a main control part and a sub control part;
- a main memory part that includes a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM);
- and an auxiliary memory part that includes a NAND flash memory, the method comprising:
- via the main control part,
- reading a control program stored in the auxiliary memory part, expanding the control program to the main memory part, and executing the control program to function as a first use area specifying part and a first defective area table making part;
- via the sub control part,
- reading the control program stored in the auxiliary memory part, expanding the control program to the main memory part, and executing the control program to function as a second use area specifying part and a second defective area table making part;
- via the main memory part,
- storing a first defective area table made by the first defective area table making part and a second defective area table made by the second defective area table making part, wherein the first defective area table and the second defective area table each include data for a bad block table that manages a bad block in the auxiliary memory part;
- via the auxiliary memory part,
- including a first use area and a second use area, and storing a use area specifying table, wherein the use area specifying table includes data for information of a use area in the auxiliary memory part used by each of the main control part and the sub control part;
- via the first use area specifying part,
- specifying the first use area in the auxiliary memory part where a program and data are stored and are accessed by the main control part based on the use area specifying table;
- via the second use area specifying part,
- specifying the second use area in the auxiliary memory part where a program and a data are stored and are accessed by the sub control part based on the use area specifying table;
- via the first defective area table making part, making the first defective area table for the main control part, which is set as a result of, with respect the auxiliary memory part, only the first use area being searched for whether or not a bad block exists, wherein
- the search area for the first defective area table making part is specified by the first uses area specifying part, and
- the first defective area table is further set to identify all use area in the auxiliary memory part, other than the first use area, as a bad block;
- when a) the second defective area table exists for the sub control part, and when b) a first common use area has already been searched for whether or not a bad block exists, and when c) bad block data corresponding to the first common area is identified in the second defective area table, and when d) the first common use area exists as a use area common to both the first use area used by the main control part and the second use area used by the sub control part,
- via the first defective area table making part, reading the bad block data corresponding to the first common use area identified in the second defective area and adding the read bad block data to the first defective area table used the main control part;
- and
- via the second defective area table making part, making the second defective area table for the sub control part, which is set as a result of, with respect to the auxiliary memory part, only the second use area being searched for whether or not a bad block exists, wherein
- the search area for the second defective area table making part is specified by the second use area specifying part, and
- the first defective area table is further set to identify all use area in the auxiliary memory part, other than the first use area, as a bad block;
- and
- when a) the first defective area table exists for the main control part, and when b) a second common use area has already been searched for whether or not a bad block exists, and when c) bad block data corresponding to the second common area is identified in the first defective area table, and when d) the second common use area exists as a use area common to both the second use area used by the sub control part and the first use area used by the main control part,
- via the second defective area table making part, reading the bad block data corresponding to the second common use area identified in the first defective area table and adding the read bad block data of the second common use area to the second defective area table used the sub control part.